🔍

Yass

NSW 2582 • Rest of NSW

6,763
Population (2021)
$45,084
Median Income
99.73 km²
Area
$340/wk
Median Rent
HistoricRuralFamily-FriendlyAffordableRetirees

About Yass

Yass is a historic rural town and the principal centre of the Yass Valley local government area in New South Wales, located about 56 kilometres north of Canberra and 290 kilometres south-west of Sydney. Set on the Southern Tablelands at an elevation of 504 metres, it has a population of approximately 6,800 and serves as a significant service hub for surrounding farming communities. The town features a well-preserved streetscape of colonial-era buildings including the state heritage-listed Yass Post Office and Cooma Cottage, once owned by the explorer Hamilton Hume. Its position on the Hume Highway corridor has historically made Yass a transit point between Sydney and Melbourne.

Yass offers a relaxed country-town lifestyle with a strong community spirit, good local amenities, and easy access to the natural beauty of the Southern Tablelands. Residents enjoy the weekly Yass Farmers Market, the recreational lake at Burrinjuck Dam nearby, and a growing café and restaurant scene along Comur Street. The town has attracted a mix of retirees, families, and sea-changers from Canberra seeking affordable rural living with urban conveniences — median weekly rent is just $340, and median household income is $1,739. Qcity Transit bus services connect Yass to Canberra, and the Yass Junction railway station (on the Main Southern Line) provides limited freight and passenger-adjacent connections.

Yass falls under postcode 2582 and is governed by Yass Valley Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Goulburn electorate.

📍 Location

State
New South Wales
Postcode
2582
Urban Area
Southern Tablelands
LGA / Council
Yass Valley
Federal Electorate
Riverina
State Electorate
Goulburn
Type
Urban
Timezone
Sydney (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-34.82°, 148.91°
Statistical Area
Rest of NSW
Area
99.73 km²
Elevation
504m

🚌 Transport & Commute

Nearest Train Stations

Yass Junction Railway Station
10 km
N/A (drive)

Bus Services

  • Qcity Transit / Transborder Express — Canberra City (Civic) 60-75 min

Commute to Canberra CBD

Distance
56 km
By Train
No direct passenger service
By Car (Peak)
55-70 min
By Car (Off-Peak)
50 min

🛣️ Qcity Transit bus to Canberra; most residents drive. Sydney is ~3 hrs by car.

Walkability Somewhat Walkable

Town centre is walkable; schools, shops, and services accessible on foot in the CBD core

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

  • Woolworths
    Cnr Comur & Polding Street Yass 2582 NSW

🎓 Schools

🏛️ Heritage-Listed Places

There are 10 heritage-listed places in or near Yass, listed on the NSW State Heritage Register.

Cooma Cottage
Yass Valley Way, Yass • SHR #01496
Yass Town Railway Station and yard group
Yass Town Tramway, Yass • SHR #01293
Burrinjuck Dam
Burrinjuck • SHR #00958
Yass Junction Railway Station group
Main Southern Railway • SHR #01291
Wee Jasper Bridge over Goodradigbee River
Main Road, Wee jasper • SHR #01485
Yass Town rail bridge over Yass River
Yass Town Tramway, Yass • SHR #01292
Yass Post Office
101 Comur Street Yass • SHR #01422
Burrinjuck Dam Site - Barren Jack Creek Water Supply Dam
Burrinjuck • SHR #00960
Burrinjuck Dam Site (Greater)
Burrinjuck • SHR #00959
Bowning Railway Station group
Main Southern railway Bowning • SHR #01096

🔍 Crime Statistics

NSW crime data is provided by the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR). Use the interactive tool below to explore recorded crime incidents in Yass by offence type, year and trend.

📊 View Yass Crime Statistics on BOCSAR ↗

Data source: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Search for "Yass" under Suburb

🏠 Housing 2021 Census

Median Rent (weekly)
$340
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$1,773
Avg Household Size
2.5 people
Median Age
42 years
Social Housing (% of dwellings)
5%

62 state housing + 65 community housing dwellings (ABS 2021 Census)

🎓 Educational Institution Attending 2021 Census

School Sector Breakdown

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
6,506
Census 2021
6,763
▲ 4.0% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Income 2016
$37,856
Income 2021
$45,084
▲ 19.1% increase

Income Comparison

📊 Population: ABS Census 2021
💰 Income: ABS Census 2021

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 5,796
Born Overseas 627

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. England 182
  • 2. New Zealand 56
  • 3. India 31
  • 4. Germany 28
  • 5. Ireland 27
  • 6. Scotland 23
  • 7. South Africa 21
  • 8. Philippines 20
  • 9. United States 19
  • 10. Vietnam 15

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

Australian 3,176
English 2,838
Irish 947
Scottish 740
Australian Aboriginal 327
German 271
Dutch 114
Italian 108
Polish 49
Welsh 45

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace 2021 Census

4,822
Both parents born in Australia
807
Both parents born overseas
773
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

Christianity
55.3%
No Religion
35.7%
Buddhism
0.6%
Hinduism
0.6%
Islam
0.4%
Sikhism
0.1%
Judaism
0.1%

📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
380 (5.6%)
5-14 years
933 (13.8%)
15-19 years
378 (5.6%)
20-24 years
329 (4.9%)
25-34 years
746 (11.0%)
35-44 years
841 (12.4%)
45-54 years
871 (12.9%)
55-64 years
820 (12.1%)
65-74 years
767 (11.3%)
75-84 years
452 (6.7%)
85+ years
252 (3.7%)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Yass from Canberra? +

Yass is approximately 56 kilometres north of Canberra, about a 50-minute drive via the Barton Highway. Qcity Transit bus services also run between Yass and Canberra City.

What schools are in Yass? +

Yass has two main government schools: Yass Public School (primary, on Laidlaw Street) and Yass High School (secondary, on Grampian Street). There is also a Catholic primary school, Holy Rosary School.

What is the median rent in Yass? +

According to the 2021 Census, the median weekly rent in Yass is $340, making it significantly more affordable than Canberra or Sydney.

Is Yass good for retirees? +

Yes — Yass is popular with retirees and tree-changers from Canberra. It offers affordable housing, a strong community feel, heritage charm, and easy Canberra access for medical and shopping needs.

What heritage sites are in Yass? +

Yass has several state heritage-listed sites including the Yass Post Office (101 Comur St), Cooma Cottage (home of explorer Hamilton Hume), and the Yass Town Railway Station. Burrinjuck Dam nearby is also heritage-listed.